MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES

MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Mne·mon·ic
(adj) - Relating to, assisting, or
intended to assist the memory.
(noun) - A device, such as a formula or
rhyme, used as an aid in remembering.
From the Greek MNEMONIKOS –
“mindful”
MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
ACRONYMS & SENTENCE ACROSTICS
RHYME-KEYS
CHUNKING
LOCI METHOD
KEYWORD METHOD
IMAGE-NAME TECHNIQUE
CHAINING
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Acronym
- invented combination of letters with each
letter acting as a cue to an idea you need
to remember.
- For information involving key words
Ex. BRASS is an acronym for how to shoot
a rifle-- Breath, Relax, Aim, Sight,
Squeeze
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Acrostic
- invented sentence where the first letter of
each word is a cue to an idea you need to
remember.
- For information involving key words
Ex. EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE
an acrostic to remember the order of the G-
clef notes on sheet music-- E,G,B,D,F.
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Rhyme-Keys - a 2-step memory process:
Memorize key words that can be
associated with numbers (one-bun);
Create an image of the items you need to
remember with key words.
- For ordered or unordered lists
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES

Rhyme-Key Ex. The Four Basic Food groups:

Dairy products: one-bun - cheese on a bun.

Meat, fish, and poultry: two-shoe - livestock with

shoes.

Grains: three-tree - sack of grain hanging from tree.

Fruit and vegetables: four-door - opening a door and

walking into a room stocked with fruits and vegetables.
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
CHUNKING
- Memory technique which relies on dividing
or segmenting information into smaller
units.
- For remembering numerical data.
Ex. 200203502794
2002 – 0350 - 2794
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Loci Method
- Imagine placing the items you want to
remember in specific locations in a room
with which you are familiar.
- For approximately twenty items
Ex. U.S. Presidents:
Place a dollar bill (George Washington) on the door.
Walk into the room and see Jefferson reclining on a
sofa and Nixon eating out of the refrigerator.
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Keyword Method
- Select the word/term you need to remember
- Then, identify an English word that sounds like
the foreign one
- Next, imagine an image that involves the key
word with the English meaning of the foreign
word.
- For foreign language vocabulary or
Scientific/technical terms
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Keyword technique Ex. Foreign Word
In Spanish, the word "cabina" means phone
booth.
- Invent an image of a cab trying to fit in a phone
booth.
- When you see the word "cabina," you should be
able to recall this image and thereby retrieve the
meaning "phone booth."
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Image-Name Technique
- invent a relationship between the name
and the physical characteristics of the
person.
- For remembering names and people
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Image Name Ex. “Shirley Temple”

- her curly (rhymes with "Shirley") hair around

her temples.
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Chaining
- Create a story where each word or idea
you have to remember will cue the next
idea you need to recall.
- For ordered or unordered lists
 MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES
Chaining Ex.
Napoleon, ear, door, Germany, Beer,
Cellar

Story: Napoleon had his ear to the door

to listen to the band from Germany in his
beer cellar.
 SOURCE URL:
http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/mnem
onics.htm
http://www.netnaut.com/mnemonics.ht
ml

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